South Africa Parks
By Philip Briggs
Philip lives in South Africa and is the author many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt and Insight guide to South Africa.
Sabi Sands shares a 50km unfenced border with Kruger National Park and offers the best wildlife viewing in South Africa. The area is divided into individual private game reserves, all offering the ultimate Big Five experience. The reserves present an exclusive experience with luxury accommodation, great service and excellent food.
Pros & Cons
- Superb wildlife viewing with almost guaranteed sightings of the Big Five
- Good guides and trackers take you out on two drives a day
- Off-road driving allows close viewing of animals
- Excellent high-end luxury safari lodges
- Mostly expensive, fully-inclusive safari packages available
- Emphasis on Big Five animals and ticking off flagship species
Wildlife
Sabi Sands is the place in South Africa to easily see all of the Big Five in a short period. Even a two-day visit is usually enough to see all flagship species. With a good population of highly habituated leopards, Sabi Sands is one of the best places in Africa to see these normally elusive cats. Lion and cheetah are also easily seen.
Scenery
Sabi Sands is an extension of Kruger National Park and has the same relatively thick vegetation consisting of woodland savannah. Two rivers run through the reserve, providing water. The riverine vegetation makes an excellent habitat for leopard and other wildlife.
How to Decide Where to Stay
Most places within Sabi Sands offer the same deal: upmarket safari packages, including accommodation, all meals and activities. Some upmarket lodges include drinks while others don't. The individual reserves share fenceless borders with the Greater Kruger ecosystem and offer a comparable wildlife viewing experience. All Sabi Sands reserves are excellent safari destinations. When deciding where to stay, the differences in the following factors could be taken into account:
- Property size and traversing rights
Traversing rights mean that the guests of one reserve are allowed to enter the property of another reserve on game drives. While traversing rights give people access to a greater area, it also means that areas shared by multiple reserves often get more crowded. This can create congestion and time pressure around wildlife sightings since only three vehicles are allowed at any particular sighting. The best deal is a large property with limited or no traversing rights. Singita and Londolozi, for example, have a large property without traversing rights. The same applies for Mala Mala, which used to be part of Sabi Sands, but now operates as an independent reserve. - Luxury level and rates
Although all offer luxury and expensive options, there are some differences. Londolozi and Singita are, for example, more expensive and very luxurious. Djuma is a lot more affordable, but can only be booked by groups. Mala Mala is slightly more affordable, and one of the best places for wildlife viewing (large property, limited traversing rights), but is relatively simple in terms of lodging. - Access to river frontage
River frontage is a plus because it attracts animals. While waterholes have the same effect, a river is also a scenic feature, and it provides an opportunity to see elephants in the water. Some of the reserves have no river frontage but have traversing rights onto a property that does, which amounts to the same thing.
The properties and river can be seen on this map.
Places to Stay
- Arathusa
Star rating: 4; family owned/managed, well-priced small property on large traversing block, no access to river frontage.
www.arathusa.co.za - Cheetah Plains
Moderately priced (in comparison), small property on large traversing block, but only limited traversing allowed, no access to river frontage.
www.cheetahplains.com - Chitwa Chitwa
Moderately priced (in comparison), small property on large traversing block, no access to river frontage.
www.chitwa.co.za - Djuma
Vuyatela Lodge: 5-star, Galago Camp: 4-star; both are self-catering lodges aimed at group bookings and relatively inexpensive, located on a medium-sized property on a large traversing block, no access to river frontage.
More about Djuma - Dulini
Three luxury lodges with river frontage on a medium-sized property on large traversing block with river frontage.
More about Dulini - Elephant plains
Star rating: 4; well priced, small property on large traversing block, no access to river frontage.
www.elephantplains.co.za - Idube
Star Rating: 4; small property on large traversing block, access to river frontage.
More about Idube - Inyati
Medium-sized property on large traversing block, owns river frontage.
More about Inyati - Kirkman's Kamp
Part of the excellent & Beyond group; moderately priced (in comparison), & Beyond lodge, large property with extra traversing rights on Mala Mala, owns river frontage.
www.andbeyond.com - Leopard Hills
Very expensive, small property on big traversing block, access to river frontage.
www.leopardhills.com - Lion Sands
River Lodge: 5 Star; moderately priced (in comparison), Ivory Lodge: 6 Star; very expensive, large property without any traversing rights, very exclusive with wide river frontage.
More about Lion Sands - Londolozi
Very expensive and luxurious, large property without any traversing rights, very exclusive with river frontage.
More about Londolozi - Mala Mala Game Reserve
Unpretentious, moderately priced to very expensive. Independent from Sabi Sands but neighboring the same area without fences. By far the biggest property in the Sabi Sands area, with the most extended river access. Very limited traversing rights with one property far away from Mala Mala's usual wildlife viewing area.
More about Mala Mala - Nkorho
Star rating: 4; well-priced, small property sharing traversing with two other small properties, no access to river frontage.
www.nkorho.com - Nottens
Unpretentious, owner-managed, authentic bush experience, well-priced, medium-sized property, no traversing, lodge overlooks the Sand River.
www.nottens.com - Sabi Sabi
Very expensive except for Little Bush Camp which is moderately priced (in comparison), large property with limited traversing to one small property, very limited river frontage access.
More about Sabi Sabi - Savanna
Star rating: 5; Moderately priced (in comparison), medium-sized property on big traversing block, river frontage access.
www.savannalodge.com - Singita
Very expensive and luxurious, large property without any traversing rights, very exclusive with river frontage.
More about Singita Sabi Sand - Ulusaba
Star Rating: 5; very expensive, medium sized property on big traversing block, river frontage access.
More about Ulusaba - Umkumbwe
Unpretentious, owner-managed, well-priced, medium-sized property, no traversing, lodge overlooks the river.
www.umkumbe.co.za
Weather & Climate
Winter in Sabi Sands (May to September) is when the landscape dries out due to a lack of rain. The temperatures are agreeable during the day, but they’ll have you shivering when the sun is below the horizon – put on plenty of warm clothes for early or late game drives. The summer months (October to April) bring afternoon thunderstorms and soaring temperatures, a perfect recipe for humidity.
Best Time to Visit
The high season at Sabi Sands happens to be during the Wet season (October to April), when animals take cover in the flourishing bush, and rain has a habit of disrupting your wildlife watching – at least in the steamy afternoons. Better to go during the Dry season (May to September) when there’ll be less in the way of crowds and expenses, plus the local animals will be a lot more conspicuous.
